[tlug] Re: new computer configuration

[Scott Robbins <scottro@example.com>]

On Thu, Jun 27, 2002 at 09:12:17AM -0700, nitin kakkar wrote:
> 
>  Pardon me for my ignorance, but AFAIK there was option to create only two kinds of partitions
>    Primary  or extended.
>   I can't seems to boot any os from extended partition, I know for sure Win98 & Linux needs their bootstrap from primary partitions, and I didn't know about others.

Ok, and logical drives within the extended partitions. 

> I still didn't understand how to fit in more OS's I mean where is the partition to install 3rd OS?

See my earlier post for one suggested method. Make a primary for
Windows98. Now you can boot Windows98.  If you're putting in XP right
away, which I don't think you planned to do, install that one
next--here's where I'm not sure, I don't know if it needs a primary or
not--you could make a primary though, just to be safe. You'll still have
room for FreeBSD and Solaris.  If you want that extra Fat32 partition
for shared Linux/MS data, that can be a logical drive in an extended
partition. So, so far we have 2 primaries, one of them empty, possibly
to be used later, for WinXP, and an extended partition 
with, possibly, one logical Fat32 drive in there for shared data.

Next, install RH. During installation, you'll be given the choice of how
to partition--make an extended partition and put it in there--you can
put the /boot partition in there as well. When it asks where to install
Grub, choose MBR. It will see the Windows98 partition and give an option
to boot that as well.  The entire RH installation can be in an extended
partition, just let it put Grub in the MBR.
When done with that, install Grub on a floppy as well.
grub-install '(fd0)'
Keep the floppy as, if you later put in XP, or have to reinstall Win98,
they'll wipe out the Grub in the MBR. (This wouldn't be a total disaster
either, you could always boot from the RH CD and choose linux rescue.

Now, say you wanted to install FreeBSD, which requires a primary. You
still have room for two primaries (when you make the extended partition,
you limit its size so that you have room for primaries remaining.) You
still have a primary. Limit its size as well, and then you have one
remaining primary partition (as well as the one that's empty if you want
to install XP) for Solaris.

I think that your confusion might be because you think that Linux too
will require a primary partition. It doesn't.

HTH a bit

Scott Robbins (btw, am I the only Scott left on the list now, so I can
stop signing my last name?)  :)